The holidays are upon us, and people are getting into the spirit as they shop, celebrate, and plan gatherings with friends and family. Unfortunately, crime doesn’t take a vacation – even during the holiday season. Sadly, what should be a joyous time of year could result in loss, injury, or even tragedy.

To keep your Christmas merry and bright, first, become aware of some of the most common holiday crimes. Then, follow our list of simple Christmas safety tips to keep you and your loved ones out of harm’s way!

Common Holiday Crimes

• Porch Pirates

During the holidays, there is a significant uptick in online shopping and with that increase in package deliveries, a new criminal practice has emerged, called ‘porch pirating.’ A porch pirate is someone who steals packages directly from homeowners’ doorsteps. Protect your presents with a home security system or doorbell camera and make sure Santa comes right on time.

• Home burglaries & car thefts

You’ve trimmed the tree and lovingly arranged the presents underneath. Unfortunately, criminals also know that hundreds and thousands of dollars’ worth of gifts can easily be found in many homes during this time of year. The same goes for your car. The thieves know that shoppers are likely to throw their purchases in the car during a long day or night of shopping. That will make your vehicle a prime target for theft.

• Alcohol & drug-related crimes

From drunk driving to assault or even rape, these crimes may experience a rise during the holiday season. That’s because, with all of the holiday parties and celebrations that take place, people sometimes make risky decisions, they wouldn’t normally make if they were sober.

• Parking garage crimes

Parking garages can be a hub for dangerous predators, burglars, etc. There are countless hiding places in a garage. Noot to mention the fact that you may be distracted as you fumble to find your keys.

Christmas Holiday Safety Tips . . . To Keep You Safer This Season

Fortunately, you can take charge and protect yourself from these common holiday crimes. From the car and home to parking garages and holiday celebrations, follow these quick and easy Christmas holiday safety tips:

• Keep your car and home locked at all times

Even when you’re home – and even when you’re hopping out of your car momentarily – lock those doors! Take any measure you can to make it difficult for someone to gain entry into your home or vehicle.

• Keep valuables out of the line of sight

This means you’ll want to place your shopping bags in the trunk of your car. At home, don’t leave gifts or bags where someone passing your home can easily see them through the window.

• Eat before you drink

Rather than attempting to cut calories by skipping meals before a night out, eat a small snack or meal before the festivities begin. Having something in your stomach to help absorb the alcohol will slow its effects. An added benefit is that keeping yourself on the sober side increases your odds of making better decisions and sticking to your meal plan or diet!

• Attend get-togethers with trusted friends

Don’t put yourself in a situation where you’re leaving a party alone – or worse, with someone you barely know. Instead, stick with friends and family you trust and agree to look out for one another. Traveling to and from your function is much safer in a group.

• Hand over the keys

Instead of putting yourself in a situation where you’re tempted to get behind the wheel after celebrating, call an Uber or Lyft to get you to your destination. Even if you aren’t planning on overindulging, you may inadvertently get caught up in the holiday spirit – and find yourself impaired and unable to drive safely. While all of these tips are important, this particular Christmas safety tip can save your life – and the lives of everyone else on the road.

• Park strategically

If possible, select a parking spot in a garage that is close to the street, exits, elevators, stairs, etc. This will allow you a quick entrance and exit, reducing the amount of time you’re actually spending in the garage. If there are ground-level parking spots available, even better, this will eliminate the need to step into an elevator or stairwell alone.

Also, do your best not to park in between vehicles. What if the person in the car next to you is just watching and waiting for you to get out of your car alone? And what if someone is hiding behind an SUV, ready to attack? Although it’s not fun to consider these worst-case scenarios, awareness of your surroundings can make all the difference in a parking garage.

• Be alert

Whether you’re in a parking garage or on the street, make sure you’re not distracted by your cell phone or other devices as you get in and out of your car. It’s important to see and hear everything around you, so be sure to keep your eyes moving as you get in and out of your car. If you’re parked between other vehicles, look in, under, and behind those cars as you enter and exit.

• Carry protection while you shop

Many companies make handheld mace, Tasers, and other protective weapons that can be clipped onto your keychain and quickly used if someone tries to attack you. Another simple technique is to position each key between your fingers, and then make a fist. This creates a defensive weapon that can be used to disable a would-be attacker.

The Best Holiday Crime Safety Tips

Always carry Silent Beacon, wherever you go. Silent Beacon is your one-button press solution if a dangerous situation arises in a parking garage, at your house, during a party, or in any other situation. This small device easily clips onto a keychain or lanyard, providing you with an instant panic button in case of an emergency. Simply depress the button on this lightweight personal safety device to summon emergency assistance.

Paired with the free Silent Beacon app, the device will send out an alert to all of your contacts, notifying them of your situation through text, phone call, and/or email. With the two-way communication feature, you can even talk to your primary contact throughout your emergency situation. And help will have no trouble finding you with the Beacon’s GPS technology. With no mandatory subscriptions, activation fees, or cancellation charges, the Silent Beacon is an affordable, effective safety device and Christmas holiday safety tips to carry with you wherever you go.

Visit https://business.silentbeacon.com/ to select the quantity and colors for you and your entire family.